Sunday in the Word Good Lessons from Good Examples August 6, 2017 Unit 2, Study 10 The Battle is the Lord’s (Jehoshaphat) Study Texts: 2 Chronicles 20:1-30

Acknowledgements Material adapted from Radiant Life: Adult Teacher Guide June-July-Aug 2017 Unit 1, Good Lessons from Bad Examples Unit 2, Good Lessons from Good Examples Volume 91 Number 4 Gospel Publishing House, Springfield, MO 65802 @2017 ISSN 1059-3233 All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International version @, NIV, Copyright 1973 Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com All Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are taken from the King James Version of the bible.

The Battle is the Lord’s (Jehoshaphat) Key Verse: 2 Chronicles 20:15 15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. (KJV) 15 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. (NIV) Focus: To affirm that God is with us in difficulties and trust Him for victory Central Truth: God’s promise of victory encourages Christians through life challenges

?Question? What are some ways people respond during difficult circumstances in their lives? None of us are immune to difficulties There may be health issues, family crisis, loss of employment Some turn to alcohol or drugs to cope Some look to friends for advice Some will seek professional help Perhaps the most important thing we can do during difficult seasons is to seek God

Look to God When in Distress 2 Chronicles 2:1-2 (NIV) : Impending Doom 20 After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites[a] came to wage war against Jehoshaphat. 2 Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom,[b] from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar”(that is, En Gedi). [a] Some Septuagint manuscripts; Hebrew Ammonites [b] One Hebrew manuscript; most Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate Aram

Background Jehoshaphat reigned over the Southern Kingdom of Judah He started his reign well (2 Chronicles 17:1-9) His Alliance with King Ahab of the Northern Kingdom of Israel almost resulted I his death (2 Chronicles 18:1-34) After a rebuke from Jehu (2 Chronicles 19:1-3), he began to seriously seek the Lord again and make reforms in Judah Here in Chapter 20, we see his life is in danger again. Even though he had done great things, this did not keep him from experiencing trouble Why doesn’t faithfulness to God guarantee nothing bad will happen to us?

Do Bad Things Happen to Good People? Some Christian leaders teach that if we have great faith and are faithful in serving God, nothing bad will happen to us God does promise to take care of those who serve Him faithfully However, sometimes when we are at a spiritual high point, the enemy will try to destroy our faith and take us down Paul wrote about “persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them” (2 Timothy 3:11) Jesus himself said “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Background Early in Jehoshaphat’s reign, Mesha, King of Moab had rebelled against King Jehoram after he became King of Israel The Moabites were trying to break free from the vassalage to Israel and their annual tribute (2 Kings 3:4-27) The “other beside the Ammonites (KJV) were the Meunites (NIV), also referred to as the people from Mount Seir (v 10) These three groups formed an alliance preparing to attach Jehoshaphat They were within 25 miles of Jerusalem when Jehoshaphat was alerted, without sufficient time to amass a defending army to counter the threat

Seeking God 2 Chronicles 20:3-12 5 Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard 6 and said: “Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. 7 Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 9 ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’ 10 “But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. 11 See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. 12 Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

Seeking God It was common for kings to make alliances to help them in battle Asa, Jehoshaphat’s father had done this, bring a rebuke (2 Chronicles 16:1-14) Jehoshaphat had learned the danger of compromise from his alliance with Ahab, King of Israel (2 Chronicles 18:1-19:3) Being fearful, this time Jehoshaphat turns to seek the Lord (v 3)

?Question? If what ways might fear be healthy? Jehoshaphat’s fear did not paralyze him, but caused him to seek the Lord as he realized circumstances were beyond his control He enlisted others to seek the Lord as well, with fasting and prayer, and people gathered from every town to seek the Lord with him (v 4) Jehoshaphat gathered the people at the temple, and proclaimed God’s majesty and power (v 6-7) He worshipped God with the people !

?Question? In what ways does our view of God affect our prayers, as well as our faith that God can answer those prayers? Some people believe that God created the world, then stepped away to let things run their course (Deists) Jehoshaphat realized that God the Creator was deeply involved in the lives of His people and the events of the world God sets up and tears down kingdoms, He orders events to cause His will to be done It was important to remember that God had given the land to Abraham and his descendants Jehoshaphat knew God had delivered His people in the past and He could do it again

?Question? Do you see a pattern here? There is a call to Worship, and a proclamation of God’s power and majesty Jehoshaphat refers then to three of God’s promises Driving out the inhabitants of the land recalled Moses sermon on Mt Nebo (Deuteronomy 4:37-39) He recalled God’s covenant with Abraham (Genesis 18:17-19) He reminded God of His promise in 2 Chronicles 7:14-15 He gathered the people in the temple where God had promised to answer their prayers (2 Chronicles 20:6-9) When we recognize God’s mighty power, it gives us confidence to approach God with any need we have 2 Chronicles 7:14-15 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.

Request Made Known After Worship, after declaring God’s power and majesty, after reminding God of his promises, Jehoshaphat presented his request (v 10) The nations were attacking without cause (v 10) During the 40 years in the wilderness, Israel had been kind to Moab and Ammon (Deuteronomy 2:1-19), yet they were repaying God’s people with evil (v 11) Jehoshaphat’s pleas was for God to judge them (v 12_ God had promised to defeat those who rose up against His people (Deuteronomy 28:7) They were helpless, and desperately in need of God’s deliverance 2 Chronicles 7:14-15 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.

?Question? What does 2 Chronicles 20:12 tell us about Jehoshaphat’s faith? He expressed his total dependence on God, as he affirmed that the eyes of the nation were upon Him alone He knew they could do nothing without the Lord When we experience a circumstance that is beyond our ability We need to pray similarly God’s power is often best seen through us in our weakness -10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10 (NIV)

Trust God for His Help 2 Chronicles 2:13-17(NIV) 13 All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord. 14 Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly. 15 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”

Prophetic Word Jehoshaphat had finished praying, and they were waiting on God for an answer It was a scene of unity and faith among the people as parents and children stood before the Lord (v 13) In the Old Testament, the Spirit of God came upon people in specific instances to accomplish something for God (Exodus 35:30-35, Numbers 11:16-30) Here, the Holy Spirit gave Jahaziel a prophetic word

Prophetic Word Jahaziel declared that Jehoshaphat and the people need not fear They would not need a large army to defeat their enemies God would bring the victory Note that they could not simply sit idly by and expect God to work on their behalf They were to “go ye up against them (v 16 KJV) But instead of fighting, they would see God destroy their enemies

Expressing Faith 2 Chronicles 20:18-21 (NIV) 18 Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. 19 Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice. 20 Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” 21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his [a] holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.” [a] Or him with the splendor of

Response in Worship After hearing Jahaziel’s prophetic word, Jehoshaphat and all the people of Judah fell prostrate before God and worshipped Him God had once again manifested himself in their presence God was going to deliver them from their enemies The response is true worship What can we learn from this response regarding a manifestation of the Spirit in our midst?

Worship In the New Testament various words are used for worship. The word proskuneo "to worship" means to bow down to Gods or kings. The word is derived from the Old English weorþscipe, meaning worship, honour shown to an object, which has been etymologised as "worthiness or worth-ship"—to give, at its simplest, worth to something.

?Question? Why is it important to worship God in difficult circumstances? Sincere worship focuses on God, not our circumstances Worship acknowledges his majesty and power Worship helps us to realize that God is with us In worship we see God for who He is, and our troubles pale in comparison to His greatness

Praise & Worship

?Question? What role does faith play in our victory over our circumstances? Jehoshaphat first told the people to believe in the Lord, that He would give the victory He also told them to believe Jahaziel’s prophetic word, if they did this, Victory would surely follow Jehoshaphat develops an unusual battle plan (v 21), a collaborative effort among the people They were to enter into a time of intense corporate praise, all the people sang, declaring God’s gracious love toward His people (v 21)

Praise God for the Victory 2 Chronicles 20:22-25 (NIV) 22 As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23 The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another. 24 When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped. 25 So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing[a] and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it. [a] Some Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts corpses

Mighty Victory Jehoshaphat’s unusual battle strategy brought an unusual victory (v 22-23) As the singers began to praise the Lord, God threw the three armies into confusion, they attacked and annihilated each other Jehoshaphat’s battle strategy was not just a step of faith; it was also a step of obedience When the armies destroyed themselves, they left an abundance of material goods (v 24-25) God not only rewarded their obedience with a victory, but also with abundant wealth

?Question? What is the role of obedience in obtaining victory over difficult circumstances? God had assured them of victory through a prophetic word Yet they were also to follow through in obedience to what God had commanded them Why is it sometimes hard to obey the leading of the Lord at difficult or uncertain times? Sometimes God asks us to step out in faith We must obey Him even if we do not understand completely, or do not know the outcome of our obedience As we trust Him in obedience, He brings the victory

Exalting God 2 Chronicles 20:26-30 (NIV) 26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berakah, where they praised the Lord. This is why it is called the Valley of Berakah[a] to this day. 27 Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. 28 They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the Lord with harps and lyres and trumpets. 29 The fear of God came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side. [a] Berakah means praise.

Power in Praise Sometimes we can be lulled into not taking God’s Blessings seriously Jehoshaphat and his people did not make this mistake The had worshipped God before the battle, during the battle, and now after the battle (v 26-28) The name of the valley, Berachah (v 26 KJV) is the Hebrew word for blessing They did not stop worshipping God when they left the valley Their worship continued as they headed home, and as they gathered again at the temple, exalting him (v 28)

?Question? In what ways can God’s intervention become a testimony to family and friends of His blessing upon us? Much like the people of Jericho feared when they had heard of God’s mighty deliverance from Egypt (Joshua 2:10-11), the people who remained in the countries God had defeated in this battle also feared God (v 29) Jehoshaphat enjoyed peace for the remainder of his reign (v 30) When people hear of the victories we have obtained by the hand of God, they can develop a fear of, or respect for God

Practical Application Christians are not immune to struggles, whether physical problems, relationship issues, or spiritual battles Faith and obedience are important aspects of seeing God move during our difficulties Seek God in times of trouble, Trust God Rely on His care no matter what the future holds Lets learn to Worship God in the midst of troubles God does bring blessings, even when we least expect them Remember, the battle is the Lord’s

Sunday in the Word Good Lessons from Good Examples August 13, 2017 Unit 2, Study 11 Stand Resolutely for the Lord (Daniel) Study Texts: Daniel 1:1-20; 6:1-28